Current law of 2022 stipulates that to perform the procedure, the person must be at least 21 years old, two living children and full civil capacity
The (STF) will resume on Thursday (13) the judgment on the volunteer, which covers procedures such as vasectomy for men and ligation for women. This trial, which had been suspended on Wednesday (12), is being reviewed again by the ministers.
The action was presented by the Brazilian Socialist Party, which questions the current legislation, arguing that it interferes with personal freedom and reproductive law of individuals. The current law of 2022 stipulates that to perform voluntary sterilization, the person must be at least 21 years old, two living children and full civil capacity.
During the trial, the STF ministers showed significant differences on the criteria established by the law. Minister Cristiano Zanin argues that the only valid requirement must be the full civil capacity, arguing that requiring minimum age or number of children interferes with individual rights of decision on their own body. He maintains that reproductive planning is an individual right and that the state should not interfere.
On the other hand, ministers Nunes Marques and Flávio Dino presented a joint vote, proposing a flexibility of the minimum age to 18 years, but maintaining the requirement of two children. Minister André Mendonça has not yet voted, but signaled that he will present a divergent vote in relation to those already presented. The STF impasse revolves around the simplification of the rules for voluntary sterilization, with different views on the flexibility of age criteria and number of children.
Posted by Luisa Cardoso
